'''BitLocker Disk Encryption''' is a [[Microsoft]] [[Full Volume Encryption]] solution first included with the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of [[Windows|Windows Vista]]. It is also present in [[Windows 7]] along with a system for encrypting [[USB]] devices called [[BitLocker To Go]].

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'''BitLocker Disk Encryption''' (BDE) is [[Full Volume Encryption]] solution by [[Microsoft]] first included with the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of [[Windows|Windows Vista]]. It is also present in [[Windows|Windows 7]] along with a system for encrypting removable storage media devices, like [[USB]], which is called BitLocker To Go. Unlike previous versions of BitLocker, BitLocker To Go allows the user to protect volumes with a password or smart card.

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Drives protected with BitLocker will have a different signature than the standard [[NTFS]] header. Instead, they have in their first sector: <tt>EB 52 90 2D 46 56 45 2D 46 53 2D</tt> or, in ASCII, <tt>eR -FVE-FS-</tt>

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== BitLocker ==

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Volumes encrypted with BitLocker will have a different signature than the standard [[NTFS]] header. Instead, they have in their volume header (first sector): <tt>2D 46 56 45 2D 46 53 2D</tt> or, in ASCII, <tt>-FVE-FS-</tt>.

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The actual data on a drive is protected with either 128-bit or 256-bit [[AES]] and optionally diffused using an algorithm called Elephant. The key used to do that encryption, the Full Volume Encryption Key (FVEK), is stored in the BitLocker metadata on the protected volume. The FVEK is encrypted using another key, the Volume Master Key (VMK). Several copies of the VMK are also stored in the metadata. Each copy of the VMK is encrypted using another key. The nature of those keys and the algorithm used depends on how the system is configured.

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These volumes can be identified by the BitLocker GUID/UUID: 4967d63b-2e29-4ad8-8399-f6a339e3d00.

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The actual data on the encrypted volume is protected with either 128-bit or 256-bit [[AES]] and optionally diffused using an algorithm called Elephant. The key used to do the encryption, the Full Volume Encryption Key (FVEK) and/or TWEAK key, is stored in the BitLocker metadata on the protected volume. The FVEK and/or TWEAK keys are encrypted using another key, namely the Volume Master Key (VMK). Several copies of the VMK are also stored in the metadata. Each copy of the VMK is encrypted using another key, also know as key-protector key. Some of the key-protectors are:

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* TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

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* Smart card

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* recovery password

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* start-up key

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* clear key; this key-protector provides no protection

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* user password

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BitLocker has support for partial encrypted volumes.

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== BitLocker To Go ==

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Volumes encrypted with BitLocker To Go will have a hybrid encrypted volume, meaning that part of the volume is unencrypted and contains applications to unlock the volume and the other part of the volume is encrypted. The "discovery drive" volume contains BitLocker To Go Reader to read from encrypted volumes on versions of Microsoft [[Windows]] without BitLocker support.

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== manage-bde ==

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To view the BitLocker Drive Encryption (BDE) status on a running Windows system:

* [http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831412.aspx What's New in BitLocker] in Windows 8

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== Tools ==

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* [http://www.hsc.fr/ressources/outils/dislocker/ dislocker]

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* [[libbde]]

[[Category:Disk encryption]]

[[Category:Disk encryption]]

[[Category:Windows]]

[[Category:Windows]]

Revision as of 14:29, 8 September 2013

BitLocker Disk Encryption (BDE) is Full Volume Encryption solution by Microsoft first included with the Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista. It is also present in Windows 7 along with a system for encrypting removable storage media devices, like USB, which is called BitLocker To Go. Unlike previous versions of BitLocker, BitLocker To Go allows the user to protect volumes with a password or smart card.

Contents

BitLocker

Volumes encrypted with BitLocker will have a different signature than the standard NTFS header. Instead, they have in their volume header (first sector): 2D 46 56 45 2D 46 53 2D or, in ASCII, -FVE-FS-.

These volumes can be identified by the BitLocker GUID/UUID: 4967d63b-2e29-4ad8-8399-f6a339e3d00.

The actual data on the encrypted volume is protected with either 128-bit or 256-bit AES and optionally diffused using an algorithm called Elephant. The key used to do the encryption, the Full Volume Encryption Key (FVEK) and/or TWEAK key, is stored in the BitLocker metadata on the protected volume. The FVEK and/or TWEAK keys are encrypted using another key, namely the Volume Master Key (VMK). Several copies of the VMK are also stored in the metadata. Each copy of the VMK is encrypted using another key, also know as key-protector key. Some of the key-protectors are:

TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

Smart card

recovery password

start-up key

clear key; this key-protector provides no protection

user password

BitLocker has support for partial encrypted volumes.

BitLocker To Go

Volumes encrypted with BitLocker To Go will have a hybrid encrypted volume, meaning that part of the volume is unencrypted and contains applications to unlock the volume and the other part of the volume is encrypted. The "discovery drive" volume contains BitLocker To Go Reader to read from encrypted volumes on versions of Microsoft Windows without BitLocker support.

manage-bde

To view the BitLocker Drive Encryption (BDE) status on a running Windows system: